Beating the Blasted February Blues

Here are some tips to combat the mid-winter ice fishing doldrums

Call it what you may—the February doldrums or the mid-winter blues—the fact of the matter is that most ice anglers see a noticeable decline in the number of lake trout, walleyes, whitefish, yellow perch, and black crappies that they catch in the middle of the ice fishing season.

But what causes the dip in the action, and more importantly, what can you do to stem the tide? That is the question I put to three of Ontario's top ice anglers. Their answers may surprise you.

"We have two full moons in January and March each year," says Tom Batiuk, Marketing Director for HSM Outdoors, "February is the dark month, and I think the bug hatches slow down during these dark lunar periods. Less active hatches mean less active bait, as the minnows feed most intensively during the peak lunar cycles."

walleye

(Photo credit: T. Batiuk)

Batiuk also believes that lake trout, walleyes, and other game fish are so tuned into their environments that they instinctively feed during the peak moon periods in December and January, to the point that they stuff themselves in advance of the dark February phases.

It is pretty heady stuff, I know, but as the hot Fort Frances ice jigger says, "If you’ve ever cleaned an eater-size lake trout that you caught during the full moon period in January and looked inside its stomach, you know what I’m talking about. The fish are stuffed."

northern pike

Fort Frances ice angler Tom Batiuk counters the mid-winter doldrums by moving around frequently, drilling more holes, and downsizing his presentations. (Photo credit: T. Batiuk)

So, how does he treat mid-winter lockjaw?

"I run and gun more in February," says Batiuk. "I move around a lot and drill more holes, hoping to contact more active fish. I also downsize my presentations. For walleyes, I like to use a 1/16-ounce spoon tipped with a wax worm or minnow head.

"For speckles and rainbows, on the other hand, I use a 1/8-ounce jig and small minnow or plastic combination. I’ve caught trout on a 1/16-ounce Northland Tackle Hexifly tipped with a 1-inch mini smelt when they weren't committing to larger presentations.

northern pike

(Photo credit: T. Batiuk)

"The bottom line is that I let the mood of the fish dictate what I ultimately present to them. I have multiple rods rigged with a variety of baits, and I let them tell me what they want when I see on the Vexilar."

Good friend, Pete Garnier, on the other hand, is the best—I mean absolute best—winter panfish angler I have ever met. He has been whacking giant crappies of late, icing scores of slab-sided beauties in the 15-, 16- and near 17-inch trophy length. Pete takes a slightly different view on the cause of the mid-doldrums.

crappie

Southern Ontario ice guru, Pete Garnier says the fish slow down and depend on energy reserves in February and thus, feed more conservatively. (Photo credit: P. Garnier)

"To a large degree," says Garnier, "I think it takes a bit of time, four to five weeks at least, for the fish to settle into their new ice-sealed environments. At first ice, food sources are more abundant in the best wintering holes, but as the fish graze these areas down, they require more effort and energy to find and catch their prey. I think they start depending more on their energy reserves and thus, feed more conservatively. It's sort of like the "dog days of summer" when the fish activity window shrinks and becomes much smaller."

crappie

(Photo credit: P. Garnier)

Like Batiuk, Garnier typically drills more holes in February as he searches for active fish. And he slows down his presentations deliberately.

"Slowing down makes the biggest difference," the personable pro explains. "When I am crappie fishing, for example, rather than steadily pounding the jig, I'll use an excruciatingly slow, simple, snail's pace steady lift. It turns the lookers into biters in mid-winter."

Last but by no means least, North Bay ice fishing guru Mathew Koprash says cold fronts and fishing pressure contribute greatly to most mid-winter anglers' woes.

lake trout

With the lake trout season opening later in FMZ 11, Mathew Koprash says the fish haven't been pressured. (Photo credit: M. Koprash)

"The month of February is cold," says Koprash, noting this year is no exception. "The polar vortexes put the fish into neutral and negative moods and toughen up the bite considerably."

As for fishing pressure, Koprash says he took a long snowmachine ride across Lake Nipissing on the weekend and saw plenty of permanent and portable ice shelters, as well as folks ice fishing from their vehicles.

lake trout

(Photo credit: M. Koprash)

"Fish start seeing the same offerings presented to them continually under the ice," says Koprash. "Cars, trucks, snow machines, and ATVs are noisy, rumbling across the ice, emitting vibrations that the fish feel through their lateral lines. They know something is not right and become wary."

When he notices this happening, Koprash, like Batiuk and Garnier, downsizes his offerings and starts using reaction baits to force strikes from fish.

"I also start targeting lake trout," says Koprash, who notes the later season opener in Fisheries Management Zone 11 means the fish haven't been pressured. "I also like to travel to more remote and less accessible lakes."

perch

(Photo credit: Gord Pyzer)

Then, as almost a gentle reminder, Koprash reminds us that "the fish are still out there and they are willing to bite. You just need to keep a positive mental attitude and make the right adjustments. We change baits, locations, and presentations in the summer—why not do the same thing in the winter?"

About Gord Pyzer

Gord Pyzer is the fishing editor of Outdoor Canada magazine and field editor of In-Fisherman magazine. He is the co-host of the Real Fishing Radio Show and host of Fish Talk With The Doc.

Recommended Articles

Long Nose Gar

A Fish for the Bucket List

Great Fishing in Northern Lights Country Up Highway 588

Find bass, walleye and trout on your next fishing trip.

Don't Let the Name Perch Lake Fool You

These Northern Ontario waters are packed with northern pike like you'll never believe, abundant gourmet walleye, and yellow perch await.

Algonquin Brook Trout

A Fishing and Canoe Trip on Algonquin's Upper Nipissing River

Steelhead of the Upper Ganaraska

Known to most trout and salmon anglers as one of Ontario’s most popular fishing destinations.

Top 5 Tips To Fish Smallmouth Bass in Ontario

Ontario has some of the top smallmouth bass opportunities. in the world.

5 Lakes, 4 Seasons, and Plenty of Fish

Fish TV selects their favourite lakes in Ontario.

Ontario Brook Trout

Fish these 10 sweet spots.

Horwood Lake Lodge

Summertime Bass and Walleye from Horwood Lake in Northeastern Ontario

Fly Fishing in Canada’s Capital City

A city visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists each year is any angler’s dream.

Top 10 Fly Patterns for Brook Trout

Learn Brook Trout Fly Pattern Choices for Surface Fly Fishing

Ultimate Drive-to Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Explore Rocky Island Lake part of Zone 10 with Ontario bass fishing in May and June.

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

Pike Aplenty

How to select the right spot to catch pike in late fall fishing in Ontario.

Four Seasons of Bass in Ontario

Northern Ontario is home to year-round bass.

Wasi Lake Fishing

Fishing at Booth Landing Camping & Cottages

Ontario’s Monster Pike Fishing Adventures

Ontario is home to first-class accommodations and an incredible fishing experience for northern pike.

Lodge 88: Keeping it in the Family

Fish'n Canada host Ang Viola takes his grandson to fly-in fishing lodge Lodge 88 on Esnagi Lake.

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Slate Falls Outposts: Arc Lake Outpost

Fly-in Adventure and First-class Service in Northern Ontario